CRUSHING IT!

For those who missed the opportunity to congratulate the Chargers for our Nanaimo victory, I have some news. The PARTY'S not over!!!!! Hahahaha. Again and again we're CHAMPS!!! Now in Parksville... amazing hockey dominance, all by cool guys who work during the day and play at night. VICTORY is saaaweeeet!!!! To have a winning percentage like the Chargers this season is pretty cool too. It's been quite the season... Beating the Showerkings, who were the previous Tubber champs and Division A Parksville champs, with a short bench, in a late night regular season game, stands out in my mind... at 41 I wouldn't have imagined myself to be a part of completing such a feat or being in such conditioning (I managed to improve my cardio, besides my regular weight-training, and it paid off - big time). With the victory over the Titans tonight, the Chargers are now 2019 champs in Parksville!! It might be my last cele though... As far as my desire to improve on achieving more goals and assists at 41 years of age, it just hasn't really happened. I've always made the effort to be a team guy and I've always offered to play any position (left "D," right "D," forward right, or left, and center) that teams want me to. I know I can check... backcheck, forecheck, and make the opposition turn over a lot of pucks, but scoring is REALLY fun and I've always wanted to be better at it. I think about an earlier player influence on me like Pavel Bure - I see his highlights, amazing ability and excitement and get chills... still. I think about Canada winning gold in 2002 and watching Joe Sakic and feel inspired. So not scoring often, I sometimes felt like I wasn't contributing enough. ALSO, I've never been a player to "chirp" and I just kind of cringe if I hear any nasty or questionable chirping by any teammate - as much as an "art" that it might be. Maybe the closest I come to chirping are my blogs... haha. The other thing about hockey for me has been the finacial costs. If there's anybody out there who thinks that winning in hockey has come at no serious financial cost to me, and no real hard work, get your head out of the sand. That said, CONGRATS and thanks (especially) to the Chargers!!!!!   

AGAIN!

For good measure... if three cups wasn't enough, here's a division II. I must remember to say "props to my teammates," because this certainly could not have happened without them. I'm happy to be a part of different cup wins, with different teams, but I've continued to play on into my older age because I thought I better prove (yet AGAIN) that it's not just a fluke that I have these victories - and there's no need to tell the doubters out there to "look at me now," or say something like that... the phonies are where they're at, and that's how it is. (That's how they think they roll, but in the end I'm the one who's accomplishing blogs, books, construction, being a part of victories and so on). They've really had nothing on me from the start. They haven't done much, when you think about that I've also been living out of my vehicles for a number of hockey seasons, while working full time, etc. Those who try to disrespect me don't really accomplish much besides eating and talking. So then, here's where it's at for me: 4 cups in 4 towns (or cities), Chemainus, Parksville, Port Alberni and now in the place where I grew up, NANAIMO... The Chargers are 2019 "Tubber's Tourney" CHAAAMPS!!!

MEMORIES

The transformation happened; from a guy being socially lost to participating in a powerful sport where I found lasting friendships. I'm thankful for the game of hockey, those involved and quite the journey!

2016 CHAMPS

When you play the game of hockey, you don't just make new friends, you adopt family! Congratulations Ice Hawks of Port Alberni, British Columbia... first year in the league as a new team and we take it all.        

Playing hockey at higher levels has taught me important life-lessons that were missing in my life.

HONOURED

Playing hockey, I learned about honour firsthand - the type of honour that sitting in church could never teach. That said, I have much appreciation for Christ and the early Christians. I say this as an athlete who has faced hardship. But there's no explanation I should have to provide in order to play hockey - I should just be allowed to play.

As a hockey player, you play hard. The game is intense and requires being fully alert and aware of details. The nature of the game is fast and it requires great skill. I often feel a lot of lingering energy after playing a game - even if it's a late game. I can see why drinking beer after a game is welcome by many players, if it can help you to unwind. Not being careful, however, could lead to alcohol being a source of trouble and vice. A player letting his guard down too much can possibly lead to further trouble - unfortunately, like the news of Jarret Stoll's situation this month. I can understand how both fear and vice can cloud better judgment. Substance abuse can be the undoing of many, but unhealthy fears may hold people down just as much as vice. Those who have no trouble abstaining from vice may have trouble with fears and confidence. Those who have a lot of confidence and no fear might struggle with alcohol excess and substance abuse. Double the affect and some might struggle with both fears and vice. Ideally, sustainable living involves no negative fears or vice. I see the correlations now of such harms, from fears and influencing negatives in society. We must face realities of life, even if they are unsettling. As for me, I did not have my first beer until I was twenty-seven. I've never smoked or done drugs or have had the desire to try them. I have no trouble avoiding vice, but I would like to improve more on my confidence. My plan to accomplish this is to do all-out practice and training so that my skills become second nature.